Removable pumping tank for automatic developing machines



March 23, 1954 A. v. L. c. DEBRlE REMOVABLE PUMPING TANK FOR AUTOMATIC DEVELOPING MACHINES Filed July 17 1951 \|l llllllll Il..

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ll Il Patented Mar. 23, 1954 REMVABLE PUMPING TANK FOR AUTO- MATIC DEVELOPING MACHINES Andre Victor Leon Clement Debrie, Paris, France Application July 17, 1951, Serial No. 237,145

Claims priority, application France August 3, 1950 2 Claims.

In rapid developing machines, wherein the film is circulated within tubes of small volume in which the liquid is renewed by being replaced as itis dragged along by the film, it has been-proposed to employ a feed pump `sucking up the liquid in a removable tank that must be disconnected from the pump when it is desired to replace the liquid. This pump also may suck up the liquid in a stationary tank which then must be lled again in situ. At'any rate, the tank confined Within the developing machine requires a series of manual operations in order to be exlchanged or recharged, while the primingof thel pump is endangered and the liquid remaining in the pump risks to be altered.

The present invention has for its obiect to provide a removable tank which may be slidably positioned in a rapid developing machine wherein the film is circulated forexample in opened tubular coils. and in` which there is xedly ar-f4 ranged a pump whose actuating means project outwardly in such away that, when they tank is placed into the developing'machine, the part that controls the action of the pump comes in contact with, and is actuated by corresponding parts connected with 'the machine and driven by a motor, said tank being relatively small in width and further comprising a handle, means for observing the liquid level in the tank, means for rapidly leading the pump discharge into thev tu- -bular` coil to be fed. air admitting means, and

means whereby the tank can be guided into and maintained in its Working position.

The invention will be more clearly understood `by referring to the accompanying schematic drawings which show. by way of non-limiting extemple, an embodiment thereofand in which-'- Fig. 1 is an elevational sectional view showing a tank according to the present invention, introduced into a portion of developing machine;

Fig. 2 is a part view. in transversal section, showing three tanks of the same type. introduced into the same portion of the developing machine;

Fig. 3 is a part view, in horizontal section, 0n an enlarged scale, showing means whereby the tanks of Figs. 1 and 2 can be guided into and maintained in their working positions: and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal part section correspending to Fig. 3.

In these drawings, denoted by I are walls of a tank. substantially rectangular in section, embodying the present invention and comprising a hollow handle 2, filling plug 8 and a discharge f1tting l connected for example with the end portion 5 of a flexible pipe feeding the developing machine.

Incorporated into one of the walls of this tank, for example into the lowermost wall of the latter when it is in its working position, is a pump 6 actuated by oscillations of a lever 1 passing through and beyond the said wall.

In the example shown, the opposite lying wall is provided with a anged gutter-like part 8 whose iianges 9 are slidably guided in grooves I I of an inverted gutter-like part I2 secured to the underside of a horizontal partition I3 of the developing machine.

The tank is thus suspended in its working position and is maintained in this position by a locking system here constituted, for example, by a resilient blade I 4 carried by I2 and protruding away from a face I 5 of the developing machine.

This blade` conveniently incurved, is raised, when the tank is inserted, by a snag I 6 carried by 8 and which, when the tank I is in its working position, passes through an aperture I'I so as to render the tank rigid with the machine framework I3, this aperture I I being managed in the lowermost bent portion of the blade spring I4.

By raising the end I8 of blade I 4 it is possible to disengage the snag I 6 from the aperture II and withdraw the tank I by causing 8 to slide in I2.

When the tank I is pushed into its working position, the lever 'I of pump E is actuated by a cam I9 carried by a shaft 2I journaled in supports 22. secured to the wall I5 of the developof shaft 2 I. There are as many cams I9 as there are supports I2 provided each for receiving a tank I. Flach of the tanks I is provided, for examp'le within its handle, with a transparent 'tube 24 that permits of observing, through apertures 25, the liquid level in the tank I. The pump sucks up the liquid through a pipe 2B and discharges the same through a pipe 21 passing through 4 into 5.

Means carried by the tank I, but not shown, are provided for regulating, or even completely stopping, the pump discharge through 5. Such means may comprise, for example, a needle-valve interposed into the discharge pipe 21 and preceded by a return, through a conveniently loaded valve, towards the tank I, the pump being so adjusted as to have constantly a surplus discharge.

Means for admitting air into the tank I are also carried out in a manner known per se and not shown.

The pipe 5 oi each tank may be easily branched, by means of a known fitting (not shown), into the feed pipe leading to the treatment tube to be fed.

It will be seen that the replacement, on the machina, oan empty` tank byy a llled'one,` isoffected rapidly and without trial, the only manoeuvres, necessary for the withdrawal, consisting in -raising IB and pulling the tank backwards, at.

rst slightly, so as to stop the pumpingL since 1 is then no more actuated by the cam lf9and to separate the pipe 5 from the feedvpieces receiving this pipe 5 on the machine, Thefemptyjtank'may then be withdrawn completely.

The latter is replaced by a lled tank by causing its slide 8 to engage into the stationary-slide4 I2, whereupon the lled tank is pushed aheaulsga,

distance such as to permit of connectingvthe pipe '5 with the machine. l l

The filled tank then can be pushed completely `xirrtn,ite-working*position; the part: t6 'raises-the blade I4 and, when I6 penetrates into'vll, the

stank is lockedyand its pump 6 :is setin operation "bythcflever l being` actuated by the corresponding cam i5.

Without substantially departing fromthev scope l of the invention, modications may' be effected in 'the particular means. hereinabove described, for =xi ng the tanks in the` machine, observing levels of the liquid ineach tank, regulatingY the dischargeV of this li'quid rapidly-connecting'each tank with the machiner lling each tank, etc., the said particular means being sst forth merely by way of` non-limiting examples.

-In lieu` ofthe alternately operated pump, each .tank mayl have a rotaryA pump actuated by" an outstanding gearingin mesh with a corresponding gearing rotated by the shaft 2|, without the employment of 1 cams such as. |18.

Finally, the tanks may be made'of-any' suitable --material'such as stainless steel,` plastiematerials,

orcthelikeu f What is claimed is z 1. Liquid `supply apparatus for-developers` and thel like, comprising, incombination,` a `frame.; drive means having a cam turnably mounted on saidimme; fa tank adapted to holda liquid;

pump means located in said tankl for pumping Hcuidout 0i'v` the samel and including anfelongated,` Imovable operating memberV` extending throughI -a wallportionof said tank; support means onf said frame and tank supportingsaid tank` for movement to and from an operating position on said frame where said operating mem- ,ber' of said pump means engages said cam of said drivewmeans to be` driven thereby to operate said pump means to move liquid out of said tank only v-'hen.,thelatter,4 is in said-operating, position thereof, said support means being in the form o! an elongated guide having opposite side channels and being mounted on said frame, and an elongated plate flxed to said tank and having opposite free side edge portions slidably located in said vchannelsfor am guide.; respectively', aflpin fixed to said tank and, extending, outwardly from a wall thereof; and an elongated springy arm fixed to said frame and being formed with an aperture in which said pin is located when said tank is in said operating position thereof.

2; Liquid supply apparatus for developers and the like., comprising. in combination, a frame; drive means having a cam turnably mounted on said; frame; o tank adapted to hold a liquid; pump meanslocatedin said tank for pumping liquid out of 'the same and including an elongated, movable operating member extending through a wall portion offsaid tank; support means on said frame and tank supporting sa'ld tank for movement to andrfrom an operating, position on sadwtrame where said operating memberof said Dump. means engagessaid cam` of said drive meaneto. bedriven thereby to operatesaid pump` means tol moi/aliqvuid outof said tank only.wl1entliev` latter is in said operating `position thereof, said, support means boing` in theform of an elongatedguide having opposite side channels and being mounted on said frame, andv `an, elongated. platel fixedi 150 said tank and having` opposite freefside edge poltions slidably locatedfin saidvchannls, of Said guide, respectively; apin-,xed tosaid tank. and

' extending outwardly fromk a wall thereon. an

elongated springy arm xedfto. SaidY frame and being formed with an'aperturein which saidpin is located ,when said tank.- is in` sadoperatingvposition thereof; hollow handle :means forming part of said tank and communicating with the interior thereof, said handle means. having` a wall portion formed with an openirlrsv passing therethrough; andtransparentmeans located in saidrhandle means opposite:` said openinsthereot to. render the level oi. liquid Vin Said tank visiblefrom.'` the` cxterior .thereoL Burgess Dec. 26,1950 

